By now, I’m sure you’ve had your first trick-or-treaters ring the bell – I’m manning the door as I write this, actually…I hope everyone out there has a safe and spooky night out!

In other news, I can’t say I’m thrilled with the revelation that our new Eastview store is going to be an LL Bean. Don’t get me wrong – I know they’re known for quality goods – but it isn’t anything we haven’t seen before. I don’t think of them as particularly ‘upscale’ (the phrase ‘workhorse’ comes to mind more easily), and I believe that was the phrasing used when the project was first hinted at. With Lands End and Eddie Bauer in the immediate area, how far removed is LL Bean, honestly?Personally, I’d think they’d do well with an LL Bean outlet at the Waterloo Outlets, rather than a 30,000-square-foot freestanding facility at the mall. What do I know, though? Maybe it’ll be a hit.

11/2 Unplugged at the Teen Center 7-10 p.m. Grades 9-12. This is an open mike program for musicians and comedians to showcase their talents at the Teen Center. It is also open to students who want to come and listen to their friends and classmates perform. Coffee house atmosphere with complimentary desserts and beverages being served. A one time registration per school year for all sessions. Other dates are; 1/25/08, 2/29/08 & 3/28/08) Fee: No Charge.

To sign up to perform, please contact Julie Eble at jeble48@aol.com. Bands should arrive at 6:30 p.m. to set up. Registration forms are available at the Parks and Recreation website. http://www.perinton.org/pdf/ProgramRegistration.pdf They can be returned to the Perinton Community Center, or to the FHS main office.

The Teen Center, part of Potter Park, has many games including; billiards, video games, ping-pong, air hockey and pinball as well as a large screen television. The Center also offers programs in babysitting, cooking and other skills and hobbies. Call the Town of Perinton Recreation and Parks Department at 223-5050 to find out when the Center is open and to sign up for programs. http://www.village.fairport.ny.us/PARKS__RECREATION.cfm

Ok, it’s not specific to Fairport/Perinton, but it’s close by (and there’s no Mendon blogger!) – Feeding the chickadees at Mendon Ponds Park.

Park at the Nature Center and walk the trail marked ‘Bird Song’, and be sure to bring birdseed – sunflower seeds seem to be a favorite. Keep an eye out for the little feathered friends, and extend your hand, palm out, and wait. With a flutter of wings, each chickadee lands daintily on a fingertip, and gingerly takes a seed.It’s really amazing. Not to mention the walk itself, as the leaves begin to change…really a perfect diversion for a warm autumn day!

Well, that hits a bit close to home, doesn’t it? Nothing like hearing about a new potential epidemic referred to as a ‘superbug’ and having it immediately show up in your neighborhood elementary school. I was worried when I found out that pinkeye was going around my son’s school, and now this!

In other similarly-afflicted schools in the country, the relevant buildings were closed and disinfected to avoid spreading the infection. Do you have a student at Northside? Do you feel worried about sending your child back to class on Monday?

Oh, and happily – the student appears to be responding to treatment, and I wish them a speedy recovery.

Perinton and Fairport residents can recycle old computers, monitors, laptops and other electronic equipment for FREE Saturday, October 20th from 9 AM to 2 PM at Center Park-West on Ayrault Rd near the corner of Turk Hill Rd. (behind the Perinton Community Center/Perinton Town Hall). The event is sponsored by the Fairport Rotary Club. A donation to benefit Camp Haccamo, the Rotary-sponsored summer camp for disabled children, will be gratefully accepted. Acceptable equipment for recycling includes monitors, PCs, laptops, printers, DVDs, VCRs, and more. Household appliances such as refrigerators, microwaves, or washers and dryers will not be accepted.

PS… Sorry for the short absence… I was out of town on business last week, its nice to be back.

…to register to vote! That is, if you haven’t already. Remember, if you’ve moved since you last registered (even if within the same county), you need to need to notify the Board of Elections of your new address.

And yes, the contentious presidential election is a year away, but those small local races make an impact, too.

Here’s the info. You still have time to put the form in the mailbox; it needs to be postmarked by midnight tomorrow.

In the newest Fairport Public Library newsletter the issue of limited library space was brought up – specifically, their desire to find a larger location within the village. While I would certainly be sad to see it move from the current cozy lower level location (I have fond childhood memories!), I would love to see a brighter and more conspicuous library in Fairport, much as Pittsford just introduced.

Here’s the quandary: Where?First, if the library moves out of Village Landing, there would be two very large empty spaces to fill in the plaza, and I’m not sure who would be willing to move in and keep the plaza viable. The lower level could conceivably be divided into smaller businesses or offices, I suppose.

Second, where on earth would you put a new library? A new build would be necessary, I imagine, unless a creative solution could be reached. Frankly, I’m stumped.Where would you put a new library? Or would you rather the library stay where it is?

Last night I attended my first Fairport High School open house with my wife. I gotta admit it was kinda weird being back in high school after 25 years. Some things never change.

The night was set up as a mini student day as you worked you way thru your child’s schedule. Here are a few of my observations:

1st period English. Shakespeare before 8am has to be tough.

Health is pass/fail and you attend once every 4 days… I think Americans need a little more health in their lives, don’t you?

At the end of this year, the 10th graders will take a final exam that encompass 2 years of material, I can’t remember what I did 2 days ago let alone 2 years ago… thank god they are going back to annual tests

The library has more computers than I would have imagined, but not as may books… times are a changin’

Awesome pictures hanging on the walls on the first floor

The second floor didn’t have any pictures. It felt really sterile

I knew the teachers would be great and they didn’t disappoint. Lots of energy and enthusiasm. Most teachers have a website and they post schedules, practice tests, extra credit, etc. Nothing elaborate but very cool.

When we got home, (after 9:30) we sat down with our daughter to talk about her teachers and the school. Quickly we discovered she had given us her tentative schedule and not her final schedule. We went to a few classes that my daughter isn’t in… Needless to say we were upset. Teenagers… Some things never change.

Gary Gocek grew up in Liverpool (central NY) and attended RIT (BS in CS). He has lived in or around Fairport for over 20 years. Gary now lives west of the village of Fairport with his wife, two cats and two guitars. He has two young-adult sons who graduated from FHS.

Gary works as a software developer and enjoys his family, music, ethnic heritage activities, church activities and DVDs-by-mail. He maintains family and other websites. After 9/11, he became a news junkie, gathering news from the D&C, TV, radio and the Internet. Gary says blogging is a natural extension, and for the D&C he hopes to "mix typical diary-like blog entries with humorous posts and comments on local politics."